Pumping apparatus



Feb.' 9 ,19265, 1,5?25330 J. W. TAYLR PUMPING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1925 Fi a Patented Febr. 9, 192e.

l UNITED STATES JAMES W. TAYLOR, .0F SAN ANTONQ, TEXAS.

PUMPING APPARATUS.

Applicatipn led March 16, 1925. Serial No. 15,758.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES W. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for pumping or removing liquids from oil wells, the primary object of the invention being the provision of an apparatus whereinthe natural gas and liquid flow of the well is used, without positive pumping mechanism, for the purpose of raising the well liquid to the surface.

Another object of the invention resides in pumping apparatus of the character set forth wherein is included a casing through which extends a centrally disposed flow line or tubing, and wherein the tubing is provided with anl elongated gas entrapping flow hood in which the gas ofthe' well is entrapped and maintained in a state of compression, the interior of the hood and the How line being provided with an inter-connecting valved entry or nozzle, the function of which being to admit regulated flowof the gas under compressi-on in said hood into the flow line for the purpose 'of effecting the fall and rise of the liquid in and from the flow line.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a peculiar and novel form of valve mechanism in the 'nozzle or entry between the flow hood and the tubing, wherein the valye mechanism serves to prevent the passage of liquid from the hood into the flow line, prevents the cutting or emulsifying of the liquid handled by the apparatus and serves to govern or regulate the vflow' of the gas into the flow line or tubing in accordance with the natural gas pressure generated in the well.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements vof parts hereinafter to be fully Idescribed andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of an oil well equipped with the pumping apparatus comprising the present mvention,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview taken/through the flow hood of the well,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve mechanism in the entry between the flow hood and the tubing,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional view o n the line 5-5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularlyY to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the casing of an oil well, the latter being extended from the surface of the ground above the well tothe oil producing strata. The upper end of the casing is provided with a head 2 having a valved outlet 3. lVithin the casing, and sealed in connection with the head 3 is a flow line or tubing 4, which extends down-I wardly through the length of the casing and has itsl lower. end positioned within the usual screen 5, situated in the bottom of the well, the lower end of the tubing being left V open to permit of the rise of the oil, which is also permitted to rise in the casing 1.

To effect therise of the liquid in the iow line without the employment yof positively acting pump mechanism, the present invention consists in the provision of an improved means through the use of which the natural gas delivered from the well is harnessed and utilized for the purpose of expelling the liquid from the well by way of the flow line. This object is attained by providing the flow line at a suitable position in its length with a coupling or union designated by the numeral 6.

.Specifically the coupling comprises a tube 7 threaded at its upper end for connection with the piping of the flow line above the coupling. The lower end of the tubing is threaded for the reception of a cap:

section 8,y which latter is exteriorly threaded and shouldered nearv its lower end for the reception of the sleeve 9 constituting a flow head 10; the lower end of the sleeve 9 is enlarged so as to possess a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the casing l, as shown in Figure 2. It will be seen by this construction that the gas contained in the liquid of the well will, when rising up` wardly through the well or casing be entrapped in'said hood between the interior wall of the sleeve 9 vand the exterior of the flow line 4. The diameter of the hood is not sufficiently great to prevent the passage of the liquid upwardly in the casing 1n response to the natural flow of such liquid from the well, so that as shown in Figures 1 and 2 there is a head of liquid above the hood, which, exerting a downward pressure,

maintains in a compressed condition the gas entrapped in the upper substantially closed end of the flow hood.

To use this compressed gas in the expelling of the liquid in the flow line, the cap section Sis provided with an internal socket 11 in which is threaded a lower tube 12. This tube, as shown in Figure 2 is provided with transversely extending pipe members 13 which are threaded into the lower end of a vertically disposed nozzle or entry 14 situated axially in the flow line. The nozzle 14 at its lower end is provided with a passage 15,` in communication with the interior of the hood by means of the pipe members 13. Above the passage '15 the nozzle is formed to include a casing in which is provided a valve chamber 16 of a diameter exceeding that of the passage 15. Within the chamber 16 there is mounted for sliding movement a valve 17. This valve comprises an axial stem 18 u on whichl is fixed a pair of collars 19, provided Awith restricted perforations 20 permitting of the passage of fluid through the valve. The ends of the stem 18 are provided with valve heads 21, the lower of which being arranged to govern fluid flow from the passage 15 into the chamber 16, while the upper of which is adapted to control the flow of fluid from the chamberv 16 through a nozzle outlet 22 into the flow line 4. If desired, the outlet of the nozzle f 22 may be surrounded by a large nozzle casing 23, which prevents premature expansion of the expelling fluid until such fluid arises farther within the tubing.

In operation, the gas arising within the casing of the well is caught within the closed end of the hood. This gas is maintained in a state of compressign by reason of the pressure of the liquid contained Vin the casing `above the hood. When the hydro-static pressure in the flow line above the valve 17 1s at a point slightly less than the pressure of the gas in the hood, it follows that the valve is elevated slightly so that the lower head 21 thereof is lifted free ofthe passage 15. This will permit the gas in the hood to pass through said nozzle and to issue from the latter in a compressed state, the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid within the flow line preventing the gas from expanding too rapidly when it is first introduced in the flow line. After issuing from the nozzle 14 the gas bubblesby reason of their inherent buoyancy arise throu h the liquid J in the flow line in small bu ble form as shown in Figure 2 and gradually expand as the liquid pressure in the flow line diminishes adjacent to the top of said flow line. At this point the expansion of the bubbles is suflicient to cause the latter to displace the liquid above the bubbles and effect the removal or forced passage of this liquid from the flow line, the bubbles following in quick rapid succession at great speed to apidly remove the liquid from the flow In the event that the flow of liquid into the flow line is obstructed by the collection of sediment or the like in or near the flow line, so that al reduction takes place in the volume of the liquid normally contained in the flow line or, in other words, the liquid becomes lighter in said flow line above the nozzle 14., there will be a tendency on the part of the gas in the upper part of the hood to rush into the flow line because of the fact that the restraining influence of the liquid abVe the nozzle has, to a more or less extent, been diminished. Excess gas pressure tends to produce what is known as cut oil and by the n'ovision of the present apparatus, it will e seen that when the velocity of gas flow through the valve mechanism is increased above a normal working point, the expanding gas reaching the cham.

ber 16, will force the valve 17 to its upper position arresting further gas flow through the nozzle until the liquid pressure in the flow line has been restored to normal. In addition, the valve mechanism operates aut-omatically in a reverse manner to close the passage 15 so as to prevent oil flow into and through the nozzle. In the event that the gas pressure in the hood has `'been substantially exhausted, and the liquid level in said hood has arisen to a level wherein it enters the nozzle by way of the pipe members 13, it will be seen that due to the viscous nature of the liquid and the friction exercised thereby on the walls of the restricted openings 20 in the collars 19, that the said valve mechanism 17 will be raised into engagement with the nozzle outlet 22 tov arrest the fwrther flow of the liquid through said nozzle.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the p-resent invention provides a paratus for the purpose of expelling liqui from an oil well by the natural gas pressure of suc-h a well without the assistance of auxiliary mechanical appliances. It will be appreciated that gas pressure may be applied to the Aliquid in the casing 1 above the hood, if desired, for the purpose of maintaining under compression the gas entrapped in the hood, however, in most wells this will be unnecessary as the'head of the liquid contained within said casing will be suiiicient for this purpose. The apparatus operates to admit sures between the liquid in the flow line and the gas in the hood. If there is a wide variance in the respective pressures of the liquid and gas, the valve mechanism automatically sets to arrest further operation, thereby preventing the cutting of the oil and overcoming one of the chief objections heretofore entertained concerning the operation of flowing hoods. The gas is permitted to enter the tubing or flow line at all times while in the state of compression and while the liquid in the flow line is capable ot' maintaining the gas in compression, until it arises farther in the flow line.` The apparatus embodies but few and simple parts which are unlikely to become out of order or to occasion repair. The appa 'atus eliminates the use of costly pumping apparatus, the necessary tip-keep of such .apparatus and many other expenses which now enter into the cost of oil well operation. Moreover, there is a conservation of the nat-ural gas in the well, in which this gas is used as needed to expel the liquid, and by harnessing this gas in the manner shown and described the same is caused to do useful Work, without being permitted to waste away as is ordinarily the practice when the usual inechaiiical form of pumping barrel is cmployed.

Vhat is claimed is:

l. A iiowing hood for oil wells comprising a casing open at its loWer end and closed adjacent to the upper end thereof, a coupling connection between said casing and an associated flow line, and a do-uble acting valve mounted in said coupling and situated to govern the flow of a fluid from the closed portion of said hood into said flow line.

2. In a flow hood for oil wells, a casing open at its lower end and closed at its upy per end, .a coupling connecting'l the upper end of said casing to an associated flow line,

'of said hood and said iow line, and a valve mechanism in said passage and operative to establish communication between said hood and flow line when the fluid pressures therein are substantially balanced.

3. In oil pumping apparatus, a flow hood arranged to accumulate therein the natural gas of an oil well, a flow line passing through said hood, a nozzle situated within said flow line and having a passage formed therein establishing communication between the hood and said flow line, and a. normally balanced valve within said passage for controlling luid'flow from said hood into the flow line, said valve operating upon the presence of unbalancedpressures in said hood and flow line to close said passage to fluid flow.`

4. In oil well pumping apparatus, a ilow hood, a flow line passing through said hood, an entry in said flow lineestablishing communication between said hood and said flow line, and a valve in said entry operable upon the presence of substantially balanced pressures in said hood and low line to permit of flo-W through said entry.

5. In oil well pumping apparatus, a How hood, a flow line passing through said hood, an entry establishing communication between said hood a-nd flow line, and a valve in said entry comprising a stein, heads provided upon the opposite ends of said` stem and arranged for cooperation with opposed valve stems provided in said entry, and a perforate disk surrounding said stem and providing a passage for the fluid traversing the entry.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES W. TAYLOR. 

